Is Zapdos viable in Gen 8 OU?

Zapdos is ranked #15 in Gen 8 OU with 15.10% usage according to Smogon May 2026 - Jul 2026 data.

What beats Zapdos in Gen 8 OU?

Heatran has the strongest conservative score in this observed May 2026 - Jul 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 84.2% of 22.029557673567428 relevant encounters. Standard error is 7.8 points. Sets and switch conditions can change the result.

How are Zapdos matchup checks ranked in Gen 8 OU?

They are ranked by p minus four standard errors. Here, p is the observed fraction of relevant encounters where Zapdos was knocked out or switched out. This is not a set-specific battle guarantee.

Zapdos counters

Gen 8 OU · Sorted by p − 4 standard errors · Smogon source period May 2026 - Jul 2026 · Generated 2026-08-05

#0145 Zapdos

ElectricFlying

USAGE 15.1% #15

ABILITYStatic

BASE STATS

HP 90

ATK 90

DEF 85

SPA 125

SPD 90

SPE 100

BST580

TYPE MATCHUPS

2×

IceRock

½×

GrassFightingFlyingBugSteel

0×

Ground

Moves

Roost 90.0% Volt Switch 85.0% Hurricane 83.4% Heat Wave 43.8% Defog 42.2% Toxic 14.7% Thunderbolt 12.6% Weather Ball 7.9%

Items

Heavy-Duty Boots 91.0% Choice Specs 5.7% Leftovers 3.2% Throat Spray 0.1% Wise Glasses 0.1% Rocky Helmet 0.0% Light Clay 0.0% Life Orb 0.0%

Abilities

Static94.5%Pressure5.5%

Common Teammates

Landorus-Therian48.7%

Urshifu-Rapid-Strike37.8%

Browse Gen 8 OU teams using Zapdos →

Explore Zapdos + Heatran teams 53 score Explore Zapdos + Hippowdon teams 52 score Explore Zapdos + Garchomp teams 39 score Explore Zapdos + Toxapex teams 3 score Explore Zapdos + Zapdos teams 3 score Explore Zapdos + Landorus-Therian teams -3 score

Leading observed checks

Open a matchup for a separate set-based damage estimate, or browse uploaded teams with both Pokémon.

Team core to explore

Zapdos + Landorus-Therian 48.7% teammate usage Explore teams →

Checks & Counters

Observed target KO or switch rate is upstream p: the fraction of relevant encounters where the target was knocked out or switched out. Standard error is upstream d. The conservative score is p − 4d. These ladder observations do not prove a set-specific counter.

How to read this table

Use encounter count and standard error to judge the sample. Damage estimates below use inferred sets and remain separate from the observed ladder metric.

# Checker Encounters Conservative score Target KO or switch rate

Heatran

FireSteel OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

22.03

53.1

84.2% Standard error 7.77 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Heatran Eruption (150 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 208-246 (54.1 - 64%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Heatran counters → Teams with Heatran →

Hippowdon

Ground DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

23.556

51.8

82.9% Standard error 7.76 points

DAMAGE CALCSand

252+ SpA Zapdos Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 169-201 (40.2 - 47.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Hippowdon counters → Teams with Hippowdon →

Garchomp

DragonGround OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

49.842

39.5

73.7% Standard error 8.55 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Garchomp Scale Shot (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 156-189 (40.6 - 49.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Garchomp counters → Teams with Garchomp →

Toxapex

PoisonWater SOFT CHECK View matchup

54.37

3.4

39.9% Standard error 9.12 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Toxapex Poison Jab vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 103-123 (26.8 - 32%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

View Toxapex counters → Teams with Toxapex →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

21.887

3.0

45.6% Standard error 10.65 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 121-144 (31.5 - 37.5%) -- 86.8% chance to 3HKO

View Zapdos counters → Teams with Zapdos →

Landorus-Therian

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

100.239

-2.8

27.2% Standard error 7.50 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Landorus-Therian Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 298-352 (77.6 - 91.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Landorus-Therian counters → Teams with Landorus-Therian →

Corviknight

FlyingSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

81.638

-8.8

8.0% Standard error 4.20 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Corviknight Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 93-111 (24.2 - 28.9%) -- 99.2% chance to 4HKO

View Corviknight counters → Teams with Corviknight →

Ranked #15 with 15.10% usage. Sorted by conservative score.